Chapter 92

 

Facing Ming Yue’s intense gaze—

Ming Xi’s raised hand slipped naturally into her pocket as she exhaled a slow cloud of white breath. Before getting into the car, she turned back as if suddenly remembering something and offered Ming Yue a blessing: ““Even though I never received a wedding notice from my dear sister, I should still congratulate you — happy marriage.”

Then, without waiting for a response, Ming Xi pressed her lips together lightly and bent down to get into the car.

She sat in the driver’s seat. Ming Yue still hadn’t moved her car, so Ming Xi had no choice but to tap the horn as a reminder. Seeing the person blocking her still insisting on staying put, she took out her phone and waved it through the windshield — if Ming Yue still wouldn’t move, she would have to find another way.

Who would have thought that after exhausting every method to arrive early at Bolei Hotel to retain Smith, she was still one step too late… Ming Yue climbed into her car unwillingly, started the engine, and moved He Yuan’s American-made sedan aside.

Ming Xi drove the white Mercedes smoothly around the turn.

Ming Yue, both she and her car, remained where they were. If their first encounter had only given her a fleeting impression of Ming Xi, with most information coming from He Yuan, today she truly felt the sharp edge emanating from her sister. Yet that sharpness transformed effortlessly into relaxed confidence and certainty, leaving Ming Yue almost defenseless. Maybe He Yuan was right — she shouldn’t make Ming Xi her opponent… if possible, it would be better to cultivate some sisterly affection instead.

“…Actually, your sister is someone who values feelings deeply.” This was the only positive comment He Yuan had given to his former subordinate after a year as Ming Xi’s boss.

Values feelings deeply?

Children who grow up lacking love naturally cling to feelings.

Ming Yue had been well-raised since childhood and was several centimeters taller than Ming Xi. Today, wearing extremely high boots, she was almost half a head taller than Ming Xi during their confrontation. Even with her imposing presence, Ming Xi didn’t show the slightest sign of tension, instead wearing a warm smile.

Values feelings? Isn’t that just a people-pleasing personality?

She’d have to think of a way to make Ming Xi “please” her—her older sister!

Ming Yue smiled coldly inside the car. Just then her phone rang. Seeing an unsaved number, she curled her lips, answered, and immediately said: “Dad, I have good news for you! You and Mom can come back and enjoy your retirement!”

…

Dezi and Han Junjun’s business started in Haigang, and their main base was now shifting there as well. Dezi had already opened a factory back in Yicheng, and last year, with Liang Jiancheng’s introduction, he secured his first textile factory on the outskirts of Haigang.

Liang Jiancheng had rich experience in international factory management. Over the years, Dezi learned not only business concepts from interacting with him, but also tried to align his operating standards as closely as possible to Liang Jiancheng’s. Today, once Smith inspected the factory, Ming Xi had a strong intuition that even if they couldn’t secure immediate cooperation, Mingzhou would at least become a strong alternative.

Ming Xi moved quickly and treated clients with exceptional patience. She only presented her own strengths, always leaving the choice in the client’s hands.

People were always more certain in decisions they make themselves, and the same was true for business cooperation.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the factory had not yet resumed work, but the entire workshop was clean, orderly, and highly standardized, fully meeting the strict German standards. It was clear that Smith was very satisfied, but he couldn’t make a decision immediately.

“Originally, I planned to schedule my meeting with you last, Miss Ming.” Smith said truthfully.

Ming Xi smiled understandingly and replied in English, “My personality is all about efficiency, accuracy, and rigor, just like Mingzhou’s consistent delivery quality and speed. My sincerity in this cooperation is very real. If anything I did today was offensive, I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Smith smiled generously. “Everyone likes smart people. Miss Ming, you’re smart and beautiful — I don’t feel offended at all. I feel honored.”

Only then did Ming Xi finally smile with real relief.

“Miss Ming, you don’t currently own your own factory, right?” Smith asked, raising a crucial issue.

Ming Xi did not hide anything about it, “My profit margins are very transparent. Subcontracting allows for better cost control. Of course, given that Mingzhou is still in its development stage, I will consider building a factory later to adapt to market changes and maintain a competitive advantage.”

A truly smart businessperson never lies about critical issues. No company has only strengths and no weaknesses. And a weakness does not necessarily become an obstacle to cooperation.

Unexpectedly, Smith asked, “Do you know why after the trial order, we didn’t continue working with Mingzhou?” DG had once had a small cooperation with Mingzhou — the five thousand US dollars trial order completed excellently.

“In China, there’s no lowest price, only lower prices,” Smith said, his shrewd eyes shining behind his gold-rimmed glasses. “Miss Ming, your service is excellent, but as a foreign trade company without its own factory, your prices have no advantage.”

On this trip to China, he was looking for a company capable of large-scale output, and he wasn’t sure Mingzhou could handle that.

Even if Miss Ming herself was capable, he valued team strength more. He liked her intelligence — which was why he spoke honestly.

Ming Xi understood his concerns. That was precisely why she had fought to become the first alternative.

She and Dezi accompanied Smith to the car. Before getting in, Smith suddenly mentioned someone, asking if she knew Mr. Mills. Ming Xi searched her memory and carefully replied: “If he has a son named Ethan, then that’s the Mr. Mills I know.”

“He’s a friend of mine.” Smith intentionally revealed this information, a smile flickering in his deep blue eyes, and finally extended his hand to her, “Miss Ming, I look forward to our next meeting.”

Ming Xi did not elaborate on her past connection with Mills, only shook his hand.

Afterward, Dezi and Han Junjun each shook hands with Smith.

Ming Xi wasn’t the only one who had grown rapidly in recent years; Dezi and Han Junjun had also changed greatly. During the factory inspection, there were several times when Dezi could answer questions in relatively accurate English even without Ming Xi acting as translator.

On the way back, Dezi suddenly pulled a thin business-English vocabulary book from the inner pocket of his leather jacket, shamelessly and smugly saying, “Nowadays I memorize a couple of words every day while I’m in the bathroom… learning more is always useful. If one day I forget toilet paper, maybe the vocabulary book can save the day.”

Uncle De was still more insightful when it comes to understanding learning.

The corners of Ming Xi’s lips curved upward in a smile. She tilted her head, gazing slowly out at the city of Haigang — still not fully lively after the holiday — and wondered how Liang Jiancheng’s New Year had gone.

Even though she was the one who initiated the breakup, during her five days in Yicheng, beneath her seemingly carefree and relaxed exterior, a tangible and clear sense of shamelessness arose within her.

A shameless yearning.

Yearning for what? For Liang Jiancheng to contact her again?

Unlike business, emotions grew more entangled the more intimate they become; the more twisting and turning, the easier it was for feelings to stir.

It was embarrassing — her feelings for Liang Jiancheng seemed unable to be as clean and decisive as she hoped. The love and desire he gave her had awakened a selfishness she struggled to restrain. She still wanted to keep holding on to him.

Hold on — for who knew how long.

Why did she feel violated when Gu Shuangyang spoke to her? Because not only was she of humble origin, her character wasn’t lofty enough either to calmly accept that kind of scrutiny.

…

When Smith inspected the factory earlier, Caini didn’t go with them.

Ming Xi directly gave Caini the passcode to her apartment door, and Caini took a taxi from the Bolei Hotel back to Ming Xi’s place.

When Caini pushed open the door, she saw someone sitting on the living room sofa.

Caini was so surprised she almost cried out, but she quickly suppressed her exaggerated reaction and honestly greeted him, “Mr. Liang…”

Liang Jiancheng turned his head, glanced at Caini, and greeted her politely as well, “Hello, Jiang Caini.” Only his voice seemed slightly hoarser than before?

Even though it was clearly her best friend’s home, Caini awkwardly stuffed her hands into her pockets and slowly walked inside.

Liang Jiancheng’s gaze paused briefly, flicked past her to look behind her, then returned. He asked in a restrained tone, “Ming Xi came back from Yicheng today as well?”

Finally, a topic! Caini hurried to explain in rapid-fire speech that Ming Xi and Dezi had taken a foreigner to inspect a factory. But she spoke too fast and quickly ran out of things to say… So she blurted out the whole story of how Ming Xi had located Smith’s hotel while sitting in the car.

Liang Jiancheng listened attentively.

Awkward silence again… It felt like reporting work to a superior — so much pressure.

Caini scratched her head foolishly. She might act simple, but she wasn’t stupid. The moment she walked in and saw Liang Jiancheng sitting in Ming Xi’s living room, she had more or less guessed their relationship.

During those five days in Yicheng, Caini wanted to ask Ming Xi about the progress of her relationship with Mr. Liang.

But… Ming Xi seemed to be deliberately avoiding the topic.

“So… Mr. Liang, why are you here?” After scratching her head, that was all Caini could manage to ask.

“I’m waiting for her…” Liang Jiancheng answered briefly. Then he looked at Jiang Caini and added gratefully, “Happy New Year.”

Caini forced a smile: “Happy New Year, Mr. Liang.” Her New Year had been very pleasant. But Liang Jiancheng looked… not so great. Although he was still handsome, something seemed off about his eyes and expression.

“Have you been with Ming Xi these past five days?” Liang Jiancheng asked Caini again.

Caini nodded vigorously: “Yes, Ming Xi has been with me most of the time, except when she went to meet a few suppliers.”

“Hmm.” Liang Jiancheng nodded. His movements were slow, like the emotions hidden in his eyes — concealed, yet not fully contained. He lifted his head again and asked with particular concern, “These past few days… was she happy?”

Caini nodded like a pecking chicken. “Happy, happy! It’s New Year — of course she was happy.” Heh heh. Although Ming Xi occasionally drifted off, frowned, or fell silent in thought, overall her condition was good — energetic and spirited.

Liang Jiancheng understood. A faint, slightly relieved smile appeared on his face. This smile, on his face, carried an inexplicable, heartbreaking tenderness.

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Liang Jiancheng stood up from the sofa and picked up his coat, gripping it in his hand. He still looked refined and upright, yet there was a shadowed weariness in his eyes. At the entryway, he turned back to Caini and said something that startled her again.

“Since you’ve come back with her… I’ll be leaving now.”

His words… made her feel like some favored mistress trying to steal Ming Xi away.

And Caini truly didn’t understand why Liang Jiancheng was leaving. It was obvious he’d been waiting for Ming Xi at her house for the past few days, and now that she was back, he left? Did Mr. Liang think they were third wheels, hence his departure?

“Mr. Liang, why don’t you wait a little longer? Ming Xi should be back soon. Let’s have dinner together tonight…” Caini tried to be polite, pretending to persuade him to stay.

Liang Jiancheng lowered his gaze slightly. “Not today. You all enjoy your meal.”

Then he left Ming Xi’s apartment.

Not long after he left, Ming Xi really did return.

The moment Liang Jiancheng stepped out, Caini called Ming Xi and told her he had been waiting at her place. So the first thing Ming Xi did upon returning was walk into her walk-in closet.

She had assumed Liang Jiancheng came to retrieve the clothes he had brought that night at year-end. However, his shirt, cashmere sweater, and coat were still hanging in her closet, exactly as before.

Caini followed Ming Xi into the closet, naturally also seeing Liang Jiancheng’s men’s clothing. Some things were already obvious: her Ming Xi had truly been “stolen” by Liang Jiancheng.

“Th-this… whose are these?” Caini raised her beautifully manicured hand, feigning ignorance and curiosity.

Ming Xi glanced at her out of the corner of her eye and said directly, “Boss Liang’s.”

“Oh.” Caini nodded, leaned closer, and asked Ming Xi with a mixture of curiosity and awkwardness, “So, what’s your relationship with Boss Liang… now?” Her tone was inexplicably tinged with jealousy.

Of course, Caini wasn’t jealous of Ming Xi, but of Liang Jiancheng… The two of them were dating and hadn’t told her.

Caini pouted.

Ming Xi turned and walked out of the closet to the kitchen, opened a bottle of water from the fridge, and drank. Slightly embarrassed yet calm, she explained, “Because we dated for half a day and then broke up, so I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“What…?” Caini’s eyes widened. Her pouting mouth dropped open so wide it could fit an egg. “You dated for half a day and broke up?”

That’s right.

From the moment she admitted Liang Jiancheng was her boyfriend while playing in the snow behind the Professor’s house, to when she came out from Gu Shuangyang’s place and called Liang Jiancheng at a highway service area late at night to say “let’s just stop here” — wasn’t that only half a day?

Caini shook her head, still finding it hard to believe. She was twenty-five years old this year, and although she had never seriously dated a man, her mind was no longer pure. She knew relationships came in many forms — but how had Ming Xi and Boss Liang managed to date for half a day and then break up?

Even a one-night stand lasts a whole night!

Oh — by one-night-stand standards, she and Liang Jiancheng had two nights.

…

On the fifth day of the New Year, most restaurants in Haigang hadn’t reopened yet. The four of them found a local hotpot place. Sharp-eyed Dezi threw out a question: “The woman who blocked your car in the hotel parking lot today — who was she? She looked kind of familiar.”

Ming Xi answered concisely, “Ming Yue, my sister. She’s the vice director of Haiou Foreign Trade now.”

Caini, who was cooking a slice of beef, paused for a moment. Compared to Dezi, she was only surprised that Ming Xi had run into her own sister.

Dezi inhaled sharply, more excited than the easily startled Caini. “That woman dated my brother…”

“Your brother’s a policeman now, right?” Han Junjun asked abruptly.

Ming Xi let out a soft “Ah,” mildly surprised — she hadn’t expected the complicated relationships in her life to intersect with Dezi’s.

Dezi slicked back his hair and explained, “Maybe it’s because the men in our Yang family have good genes, they’re handsome, and especially popular with women.”

“Tch.” Caini rolled her beautifully done eyes.

“Tell me more?” Ming Xi looked at Dezi with interest. She had a feeling she would continue dealing with Ming Yue. In truth, she didn’t know her sister that well. Her past impressions were mostly shaped by negative childhood shadows — not reliable enough to judge a competitor. If Dezi could provide details about Ming Yue’s past, it would be useful.

Dezi understood. He did know some things. Before Ming Yue went abroad, she had indeed dated his brother. Back then in Yicheng, their group hadn’t grown up yet, but Ming Yue had already matured early into a stunning beauty. When Dezi was little, his brother would often coax him out of the house, and Ming Yue would come to the room he shared with his brother. At first Dezi didn’t understand; after enough times, he did.

“Ming Xi, your sister is quite something. After she went abroad, she even swindled tens of thousands of yuan from my brother for a while.”

What?! And there’s more:

“My brother was already married, but he secretly converted the money into US dollars and sent it to her. My sister-in-law found out — they fought for a long time and almost got divorced.”

“Why didn’t you say so sooner…” Caini looked at Dezi.

Dezi shrugged: “If it weren’t for such a coincidence, I wouldn’t have said anything. If I were Ming Xi, my thought about that kind of people would be — ‘Don’t even bother telling me if they die.’ Right, Boss Ming?”

Dezi raised his Coke.

Ming Xi clinked her cola lightly against Dezi’s; it was indeed true… but reality rarely followed one’s wishes. Ming Yue had appeared before her eyes.

Then, she had a premonition that soon she might have a family reunion, and Ming Decheng and Yang Yumei would both appear…

“Ming Yue’s back, what about your parents?” Caini blurted out.

Ming Xi: “They should be back soon too.”

Ming Yue already knew about her situation, and Ming Decheng and Yang Yumei would find out sooner or later. If Ming Decheng knew she was doing well now, he would definitely come looking for her.

“I bet they’ve been working illegally in the US for the past few years to maintain Miss Ming Yue’s respectable lifestyle.”

Ming Xi guessed this because she understood He Yuan. In recent years, Haiou had expanded aggressively. On the surface, the business looked bigger, but in reality, the cash flow was tight. For He Yuan to marry a “delicate beauty” at such a critical moment, there could only be one reason — the bride had exaggerated her family’s financial strength.

That evening, after finishing their hotpot dinner, they went their separate ways.

Like Ming Xi, Dezi had also bought a house in Haigang, and Caini naturally went back to Tianxi No. 2 with Ming Xi.

In the underground parking garage, Caini happily got out of the car with the two takeout braised dishes she had brought back. She glanced into the car and saw Ming Xi still sitting there, saying, “Caini, why don’t you go upstairs first?”

Caini chuckled and cleverly replied, “Should I go upstairs first to make sure Mr. Liang isn’t in your apartment before you go to find him?”

Ming Xi smiled. No, that wouldn’t happen. If Liang Jiancheng knew Caini was staying at her place these days, he definitely wouldn’t come looking for her.

He knew her door code. She knew his. Their relationship, both emotionally and physically, had progressed to a very deep stage.

Could a simple “Let just stop here” really end everything?

If it could, Caini wouldn’t have run into him at her apartment today…

Her car plate was still registered at Tianxi No. 1’s underground parking, so Ming Xi drove straight down without needing to register. She parked beside Liang Jiancheng’s spot — and noticed his car wasn’t there. Hadn’t he returned yet? Ming Xi still got out of the car and took the elevator to the top floor where Liang Jiancheng lived.

She stood at his door for a long time. Raised her hand. Lowered it. She simply couldn’t calmly punch in the password.

Instead, she turned away and went to the fire staircase, sat down quietly on one of the steps, knees bent. From her pocket she took out a few candies, unwrapped them, and put them in her mouth.

Whenever her thoughts were chaotic, she chewed candy while thinking.

Her mind, in truth, was always clear. It was her heart that was in turmoil. And a chaotic heart was far more fatal than a chaotic mind…

Ming Xi buried her head, hesitating again and again.

There were no windows in the stairwell. As she sat there, it felt as though wind brushed her back. The motion-sensor light above flickered off and on. Ming Xi didn’t want to sit in darkness. Each time the light dimmed, she made a small noise to trigger it back on.

Until, after sitting silently for a long time, tangled in hesitation, she wondered whether she could discuss with Liang Jiancheng the possibility of maintaining a special relationship. Not boyfriend and girlfriend, not lovers who owed each other responsibility, just… something in between. When the day came that they no longer liked each other, they could simply part naturally. Would that work?

Would having a lover affect the disclosure information for Liang Jiancheng’s company going public?

Probably not.

The thoughts circled and circled in her mind. A little ridiculous. A little laughable. A little pathetic.

She hadn’t made a sound for a long time. The light above finally went completely dark. Darkness enveloped her, and she didn’t even notice.

It was so hard to sever a relationship while it was still burning hot. Some things were like trying to cut water with a blade — the more you cut, the more it flows. So perhaps letting things take their natural course… would be better? Keeping their relationship secret, just like the little yellow book Caini had been reading all day described—Boss Liang’s secret mistress? Or Boss Ming’s secret lover?

Ming Xi covered her face. Suddenly, the motion-sensor light above her head turned on abruptly.

She lowered her hands instinctively and turned her head. Her gaze froze — then slowly traveled up Liang Jiancheng’s long, straight legs to his face. A natural smile lifted on her lips, awkward yet intimate: “…Liang Jiancheng, how did you know I was here?”

“I saw your car when I parked. Before you came over, I drove around Tianxi No. 2 and saw your window was lit. I thought you were home, so I was relieved. But when I returned and saw your car…” he said slowly, voice calm, emotions restrained.

Oh, I see… Ming Xi didn’t get up. Liang Jiancheng simply sat down next to her.

The two sat quietly for a long time, and the lights, which had been on for a while, went off again. In the darkness, Ming Xi turned her head and met the gaze he had never once shifted away.

“Liang Jiancheng… if I could be your secret lover, would you… be willing?” Ming Xi mustered her courage and asked the shameful question without much hesitation.

Before she could finish speaking, while the word “willing” still lingered on her lips, Liang Jiancheng grasped the back of her head and kissed her. Warmth and a cool, clean scent flooded her mouth instantly.

The longing, worry, and despair that had accumulated over the past five days erupted completely at this moment.

Ming Xi felt Liang Jiancheng’s hand tightly gripping the back of her head. She couldn’t pull away.

Her heart trembled slightly, sometimes hard, sometimes brave, sometimes weak.

The kiss lasted a long time. When he finally stopped, his hand still cradled her head. Facing her directly, the faint crease at the corner of his eyes lifted slightly as he said in a low voice: “If Miss Ming doesn’t want to make our relationship public, and doesn’t want to interact with my mother again, there’s no need to secretly become my hidden lover. That would be too unfair to Miss Ming…”

Unfair? She didn’t feel it was unfair — just a little embarrassed… Ming Xi remained silent, so did Liang Jiancheng disagree?

“I have another proposal, would you be willing to consider it, Miss Ming?” Liang Jiancheng suddenly took her hand, his tone carrying a hint of business negotiation, offering an alternative solution. He truly could not return to being just friends — not after their relationship had already reached this point. That was absolutely impossible for him!

So, what was his proposal?

In the stairwell, Ming Xi’s eyes shone like black crystal. She paused, then asked directly: “—What is Mr. Liang’s proposal?”

Liang Jiancheng’s dark, gentle gaze almost seemed glued to Ming Xi’s face. Without hesitation, he offered himself up, saying, “Miss Ming could consider… keeping me.”

Ming Xi: …

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